It's Time Already: Which Autumn Plants Should You Plant Now

Mini-guide for everyone who is heading to the countryside in autumn. Experts from Derevo Park explain what else can still be planted and how to prepare the garden for the cold.

Conduct an Inventory

Create a list of what you like about your garden and what you would like to change. Which plants have grown too large? Do your flower beds look good or do they need to be modified and enhanced? Think about projects for next year: building a patio or organizing a water feature.

Transplant Perennials

Carefully inspect your garden. Perhaps your rhododendrons do not thrive in full sun, and the iris would look better at another end of the garden?

Now that it has become cooler, you can divide and relocate perennials. Late summer and early autumn mark the second root growth of the year: plants store nutrients and can tolerate transplanting with minimal stress. Cover the roots with a layer of mulch for additional winter protection.

Do Autumn Shopping

We are used to visiting garden centers in spring, but many late-season plants look unattractive in early spring, so some nurseries don't even put them up for sale. However, in late summer and early autumn, they can be seen at their best and bought at a discount.

Don't Forget Bulbs

Narcissus, hyacinths, tulips, or exotic bulbs currently popular can beautify the garden in early spring if planted in autumn. By the way, it's better to buy bulbs at the end of summer.

Rare varieties sell quickly, and if you want your plantings to perfectly match your original plan, it's better to act fast. Many rare varieties can now be ordered online, which also takes some time. It’s better to prepare in advance.

Tip: To avoid an empty look in the garden, combine flower beds with spring- and autumn-blooming plants. For example, narcissus and muscaris can be paired with brunneras and baptlias.

Before winter arrives, you will enjoy the combination of Hosta variabilis and Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass. Hosta blooms in late June when the grass only shows a bunch of green leaves, but by August the scene changes: the honey-colored fading hosta blooms contrast beautifully with the sharp feathery shoots of the grass.

Work on the Vegetable Garden

You still have time to plant a vegetable garden and harvest a crop: greens, aromatic herbs, and peas. They fit perfectly into a decorative garden instead of plants that have finished their season.

Below is a list of several plants that germinate quickly, and if planted now, you can harvest a decent yield:

• Spicy greens (arugula, mustard);

• Leaf lettuce;

• Peas (look for dwarf and disease-resistant varieties);

• Spinach;

• Onion.

There is another group of garden crops that need time to develop their root systems. Therefore, it’s better to plant them now and let them overwinter to get a good yield in the next season:

• Garlic (September – October);

• Scallions (September – October);

• Berry crops (e.g., blueberries).

Take Care of Nature

Instead of throwing mown grass and organic waste into plastic bags and cluttering landfills, try turning them into organic fertilizer (compost). It can be used for mulching before winter or restoring soil in early spring.

To make compost, you need to layer the waste, let it decompose and mature. If you want to mulch the soil before winter, remove already matured compost (which looks like brown soil) from the compost bin and spread it in the root circles of shrubs and trees.

If you want to use fertilizer in spring, leave the layered organic waste in place and use matured compost during spring work.

Photo on cover: Design by Irina Lukyanova